Seven-year-old survives cougar attack while camping on Vancouver Island

PORT ALBERNI, B.C. – A seven-year-old boy is recovering from puncture and scratch wounds to his head and shoulder after being attacked by a cougar on Vancouver Island.

RCMP in Port Alberni, B.C., say the incident happened just before 8:30 Wednesday night.

The family was camping near Sproat Lake, about 15 kilometres northwest of Port Alberni.

Const. Tracy Corner says the child’s father was able to scare off the big cat.

Conservation officers are now searching for the animal.

There have been no recent reports of cougars around Sproat Lake, but an 18-month old boy was badly bitten in an attack near Ucluelet, 100 kilometres west, last August. (News1130)